Cartier Tank Louis Cartier Ref. WGTA0011

Since the classic-sized Tank Louis Cartier, boasting a 23mm x 30mm case and mechanical movement—a timepiece that maintained its allure despite the surge in oversized watches—several iterations of the Tank Louis Cartier have emerged. Some featured quartz movements, others included a date window at 3 o’clock, while some boasted complications such as power reserve indicators or moon phases. Additionally, there were even XL models available in two different sizes. Yet, none seemed to capture the exquisite charm of the original. This watch adorned the wrists of icons like Yves Montand, Warren Beatty, Andy Warhol, Ingrid Bergman, Yves Saint Laurent, and even Mohammed Ali.

However, that narrative shifts as Cartier unveiled what, in my view, is the quintessential version of the Tank Louis Cartier, marking its 100th anniversary in 2017. Two sizes were offered: small and medium. The small, designed for ladies, measures 29.5 x 22mm, while the unisex or men’s size comes in at 33.7 x 25.5mm. The dimensions of the larger size are only slightly larger than the original but significantly smaller than the current XL version, which measures 30 x 39.2mm.